Capping device



E. S. ENGLE GAPPING DEVICE June 1, 1943.

Filed April 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 6 0 arfi'fZy/e.

BY J/I, JW

ATTORNEY Patented June 1, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAPPING DEVICE Edgar S. Engle, Greensburg, Pa.

Application April 3, 1940, Serial No. 327,560

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a capping device, and particularly, to a device for forming caps or covers to conform to a milk bottle top.

In handling milk and other food products in bottles, it is customary to thoroughly sterilize the containers prior to filling and it is highly desirable to protect at least the portion of the container adjacent the pouring opening to prevent contamination by the hands of handlers or polution by animals after delivery to the customers doorstep.

My invention relates to a cover applying device to fold a parchment, metal foil or other foldable cover about the top and neck of a container, such as a milk bottle.

The covers may be either fiat or preformed to loosely fit over the top of the container. My device provides a resilient socket to fit over the container and fold the cover over and about the top and at least a portion of the sides of the container, and then firmly press the folded cover into a set position so that it is firmly secured on the container.

In order to produce a neat appearing cover, it is desirable to fold or pleat the side portion of the cover material into substantially identical folds all lying in the same direction. This result is secured according to my invention by giving the cover applying device a partial rotation at the time it engages the cover to fold it into place. Then heavy pressure is applied to the folds to rigidly set them in place.

The setting of the folds is accomplished according to my invention by placing the cap in a resilient walled chamber and forcing the wall against the folded cap by hydraulic pressure. For properly setting certain kinds of covers, it is desirable to provide the contacting face of the resilient wall with relatively firm contact elements, such as metal or hard rubber, to insure firm contact to sharply crease the folds.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide a, capping device for applying foldable covers to containers.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a capping device which neatly folds the covers about the sides of the container.

It is a further object of my invention to provide hydraulic pressure means for setting a folded cover in place.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptlon taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

" 5 attached to the stand 4.

Figure 1 is an elevation, partially in section, of a capping device according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a modified capping head according to my invention; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a further modification according to my invention.

In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1, the capping device comprises a container receiving platform I mounted on a suitable arm 2 which has a bearing on an arm 3 of a stand 4, which may conveniently be a portion of a bottle filling device (not shown). The arm 2 is reciprocated by any suitable means (not shown).

The capping head is supported on a bracket The head includes an open chamber 6 adapted to receive the top of the container, such as a milk bottle 'I. The chamber 6 is provided with a resilient member 8, preferably constructed of rubber, the resilient member being adapted to contact with a suitable covering 9 which may be a flat sheet of paper, metal foil, parchment, or other suitable material, or a preformed cap of heavier or reenforced material. The resilient liner 8 is clamped to the chamber 6 by a ring l0 which is preferably bellshaped to act as a guide ring, and by a, contact member I l adapted to seat the cap on the top of the bottle 1.

Above the chamber 6 is a working or pressure applying chamber I2, which encloses a resilient member l3 adapted to receive a suitable fluid, such as water, for actuating the compressing member 8. The interior of the chamber I2 is connected to the interior of the chamber 6 by suitable passages M.

A plunger l5 contacts the resilient member I3 and is mounted in a suitable guide or bearing it which is provided with spiral guide slot I'I cooperating with a lug or pin 18 on the plunger I5.

In operation, the bottle 1 is placed on the platform l and a suitable cap blank placed on top of the bottle 7. Then the arm 2 is raised to bring the top of the bottle and the cap blank 9 into contact with the capper head when the ring I0 starts to fold the cap. The pressure lifts the head so that the pin l8 rides in the slot I! to revolve the head to lay the fold of the cap in one direction. Further movement of the head causes the plunger to compress the element l3, forcing the fluid out of chamber l2 into the chamber 6 behind the resilient member 8, which in turn, presses down the folds of cap 9 and firmly crimps the folds to hold the cap in place. If the cap 9 is formed of light material, it is preferably provided with some suitable adhesive so that it is stuck firmly to itself. On the other hand, if a heavier, or self-sustaining material, such as metal foil, is utilized, the resilient member may be too soft to firmly crimp the folds and suitable hard inserts 20 may be attached to the working face of the resilient member to supply the desired firm contact to properly crimp the folds.

After suiificient pressure is applied to set the cap in place, the platform I is lowered, which relieves the pressure on the resilient member I3, which returns to its normal shape to withdraw the fluid from chamber 6 and release the element 8 from the top of the container 1 and rotate the head to its initial position.

In the modification according to Fig. 2, the resilient member in chamber i2 is shown as a metallic bellows or sylphon 22. Preferably, the bellows 22 is of relatively small cross-section to reduce the actual pressure on the bellows to secure the desired hydraulic pressure in chamber 6.

While in Fig. 1, I have shown hard elements 20 attached to the face-of the resilient element 8, I may utilize suitable spring elements or auxiliary facing 23 herein shown as overlapping spring arms secured to an annular base 24 held in position by the contact plate ll. Preferably, the direction of overlap of the fingers 23 is such as to assist in laying the folds when the head is rotated.

While for purposes of illustration, 1- have shown specific embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the true spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A capping device for applying a covering to the top and neck of a container, comprising a container supporting member, a capping head in spaced relation to said container supporting member, said head and said member being relatively movable to and from each other, said head including a chamber adapted to receive the top and neck of the container, a guide ring about the mouth of said chamber, a rubber lining in said chamber, a second chamber adjacent said first-mentioned chamber, a resilient fluid containing member in said second chamber, a fluid passage between said resilient fluid containing element and said first-mentioned chamber, means operable on relative motion between said container supporting member and said capping head to rotate said head to fold a cap about the top and neck of the container, a plunger entering said second chamber and contacting said resilient member to deform said fluid containing member and force fluid therefrom into said firstmentioned chamber to apply fluid pressure to said rubber lining to crimp a cap onto the top and neck of the container.

2. A bottle covering device comprising a bottle supporting member, a capping head including a chamber for receiving the top of the bottle, guide means on said chamber for folding a cap about the top of the bottle, means for rotating said chamber with respect to the bottle a rubber lining in said chamber, a metallic bellows communicating with said first-mentioned chamber, a fluid in said metallic bellows, and means operable by relative movement between the capping head and the container for forcing said fluid from said bellows into said first-mentioned chamber to compress the rubber lining about the top of the bottle.

EDGAR S. ENGLE. 

